Lady Filmy Fern, or The Voyage of the Window Box by Hennell, Thomas - 1980

Hamish Hamilton,. Hardback. First edition. Children's tale about a voyaging celebrity lady who is avoiding the paparazzi photographer-spider, the Welsh Polypod, whilst aided by her friend Mr Virgin Cork. These 19 watercolours by Edward Bawden were passed to his friend and colleague Thomas Hennell for the poet to spin a tale around them after the images emerged from a game of consequence played by Bawden, Hennell, fellow artist Eric Ravillious and their wives. Bawden then wrapped the work and hid it in his garden well for the duration of the war. Forgotten about until 1979 when the work was restored for an exhibition, this is the first edition. Both Hennell and Bawden along with Eric Ravillious were war artists, with both Hennell and Ravilious losing their lives (in 1945 and 1942) respectively. Bawden himself spent some months in a Vichy internment camp in Casablanca - the war was no safer for War Office artists it seems than other servicemen and women. Introduction by Art critic Peyton Skipwith illustrated with 'Brick House Garden Party', a drawing showing Hennell, Ravilious and Bawden with Tirzah Ravilious (1932). The illustrations total 18 full page illustrations plus an illustrated title page and the 1932 drawing. Hint of dustiness to shelf edge else very clean, bright and neat. Near fine, bright copy in like dust jacket . Hardback. First Edition. 1980.